"Tawanda Chabikwa '07 may only be twenty years old but already he's a driven man. a powerful dancer and artist, Chabikwa spent summer of 2004 launching an organization to benefit AIDS orphans in his homeland of Zimbabwe. Last March, Chabikwa's accomplished energetic dancing, along with his unstiniting drive, was showcased in a performance of African dance, where he was joined by some sixteen COA students at Bar Harbor's Criterion Theatre. The show "Ngano Nhatu: Three African Tales" raised $4,663 for his organization, ndini wako (pronounced endini wako) meaning, "I am yours."
Though Chabikwa was born and raised in Harare, Zimababwe's capital, his parents made sure he wuold know his ancestral culture. He spent holidays in the countryside learning the powerful rhythmic dance and drumming of his people, seasoning it later with studies in modern dance.
With Aids rampant in Zimbabwe, nearly one million children have been orphaned ,says Chabikwa. "It is a huge problem at home now, socially and politically." While grandparents may step in, Zimbabwean schools are not free and employment is scarce. Though $120 [US] can send a child to school for a year, few orphaned children have means. ndini wako is a start. With the money Chabikwa raised from the Criterion and other performances in Maine, along with an associated benefit dinner at the Cafe Bluefish, Chabikwa already has ten children in school."